Shout Out: Previous Podcast Guest Brett Burney talks about his evolution of computer use on MPU!

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I am always catching up on my podcasts. There are many out there - some great, some not so good. It can be challenging to listen to all of them, and you do get behind in your listening (much like we get behind in our book reading list).  I had a chance to catch up on an old recording of the Mac Power Users, Episode #597, with previous The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page Podcast guest Brett Burney.

My first computer if you don’t count my pong game from the mid- to late-1970s or my atari in the early 1980S!

Although it’s a couple of years old (yes, I sometimes skip episodes [in this case unintentionally]), I had a chance to listen to it and found it both valuable and entertaining. Brett, Dave, and Stephen, discuss many things about Mac.  But they also discuss how Brett uses his vast knowledge of computers to assist law firms in using technology effectively and efficiently in their practice.  I enjoyed hearing about Brett's journey starting office with a TRS-80 (me too!) to his first Mac to his iPhone, iPad, and Mac selection of choice today!

I think any lawyer, whether they use Windows or Apple, will enjoy the interview as Brett talks about his evolution of computer user in his personal and professional life. I think we can all learn something from this interview.  I know I did!

Enjoy!

#73: Legal Research and More, with Sarah Glassmeyer

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Our next guest is law libriarian Sarah Glassmeyer. She has a career that includes academia, nonprofit tech, and even a fellowship at Harvard. Her numerous awards, including being named to Fastcase 50 and as an ABA Legal Rebel, speak to her impact. Sarah's commitment to learning and growing and her passion for her mission ensure she'll never stop striving for positive change in the legal world.

Join Sarah and me as we discuss the following three questions and more!

  1. What are the top three tech tools utilized by larger law firms that solos and small law firms would be surprised are reasonably accessible to them?

  2. What are the top three ways Chat GPT falls short for attorneys?

  3. What are the top three directions that you see technology heading in that attorneys should keep an eye on?

In our conversation, we cover the following:

[01:08] Balancing Platforms: Sarah’s Hybrid Tech Ecosystem

[10:13] Tech Tools for Smaller Firms to Rival the Big Players

[23:38] Three Ways ChatGPT Falls Short for Attorneys

[37:07] Key Technological Trends for Attorneys to Monitor

[45:12] Where to Connect with Sarah

Resources:

Connect with Sarah:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sglassmeyer
Website: sarahglassmeyer.com/
Substack: substack.com/@sarahglassmeyer

Hardware mentioned in the conversation:

ThinkPad: lenovo.com/us/en/c/laptops/thinkpad/

Software and Cloud Services mentioned in the conversation:

Substack: substack.com/@sarahglassmeyer
FatCow: bluehost.com/fatcow
Azure: azure.microsoft.com/en-us
AWS: aws.amazon.com/

Monday morning humor: Did Star Trek have it right with its predictions of technology communications?

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The "Star Trek" franchise, beginning in the 1960s, has made numerous predictions and depictions of future technology, some of which have striking similarities to devices and concepts that have since emerged in the real world. Here is a quick overview of how "Star Trek" fared in its portrayal of communications technology:

Star trek has been predicting advances in technology since 1966.

  • Communicators: One of the most iconic Star Trek gadgets, the handheld communicator, closely resembles today's flip phones. When the original series aired, the idea of personal wireless communication devices was science fiction. Today, it's ubiquitous with mobile phones, though modern smartphones have capabilities far beyond voice communication.

  • Universal Translators: Star Trek introduced the concept of a device that could instantly translate alien languages. Today, we have apps and devices like Google Translate and Pocketalk, which can instantly translate spoken words into multiple languages, albeit not alien ones.

  • Holodeck: This virtual reality room on the Starship Enterprise allowed crew members to interact with computer-generated environments and characters. While today's VR technology is in its infancy, the principles behind virtual and augmented reality have been explored extensively and resemble the Holodeck's capabilities.

  • Viewscreen: Star Trek's viewscreen, used for video communication between ships or with alien species, is reminiscent of modern video conferencing tools such as Skype, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams.

  • Data PADD (Personal Access Display Device): This tablet-like device was frequently used in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" series, well before the iPad or other tablets became a part of our daily lives.

  • Wearable Tech: "Star Trek: The Next Generation" introduced the combadge, a wearable badge that served as both an identifier and a communication device. Today's wearable tech, like smartwatches, can track health metrics and receive notifications, among other functions.

However, it's essential to point out the difference between inspiration and prediction. While "Star Trek" may have inspired some of the technological developments or provided a vision for engineers and designers, saying the show "predicted" these advancements might be a stretch. Technologies often develop because of broad socio-economic, scientific, and technological trends, not necessarily because of science fiction portrayals.

"Star Trek" certainly got some things "right" about the direction in which communication technologies were headed. While the exact implementation and details differ, the show did an impressive job visualizing a future where technology makes communication more seamless and universal.

My two cents: Have phone calls gone the way of the Dodo for Attorneys?

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should attorneys still use phones for communications? Or has it gone the way of the dodo?

The blog post "Have Phone Calls Gone the Way of the Tin Can and String?" from Carolyn Elefant of MyShingle.com and an article from the Washington Post titled "The new phone call etiquette: Text first and never leave a voice mail" make me wonder if the use of "phone calls" is still a practical tool for attorneys in the age of advanced technology. Let's put this in a little context: Phone calls have existed for 147 years, with the iPhone being around for 16 years. The way we make calls has changed significantly with technological advancements, such as making calls on smartwatches and seeing voicemails transcribed in real time. But with the advances in texting, instant messaging, emails, and video calls, do we lawyers really need to be making phone calls today?

First, let's look at the Washington Post's Phone Etiquette Guidance for 2023:

  • Don't Leave a Voicemail: Voicemails are considered outdated due to the prevalence of text messages. It's often better to send information in written form, like a text or email. However, exceptions include sending heartfelt messages to close ones.

  • Text Before Calling: It's polite to text someone before calling them. This gives the recipient a heads-up and allows them to prepare for the conversation.

  • No Obligation to Answer: Just because someone calls doesn't mean you have to answer immediately. It's okay to mute the call and respond when convenient.

  • Emotions vs. Facts: Emotional or nuanced conversations are better over the phone, while factual updates or coordination can be done via text.

  • Video Voicemails: Apple's iOS 17 introduced a feature allowing users to leave video messages. While fun, not everyone appreciates them.

Are the use of phone calls in the work environment extinct?

  • Video Call Etiquette: During video calls, it's best to stay still and ensure your entire face is visible. Moving around can be disorienting for the other party.

  • Avoid Speakerphone in Public: It's considered impolite to use speakerphone in public places. If in a crowded area, be mindful of the volume and personal space.

  • Screen Calls: Apple's new feature in iOS 17 transcribes voicemails in real time, allowing users to decide whether to answer the call based on the transcription.

  • Phone Calls Still Matter: Despite the shift in communication methods, phone calls remain a valuable way to connect with others and foster relationships.

This may work with the general public. But I think this needs to be refined for lawyers.

My general phone guidance for lawyers in this new technology age:

Leave a Voicemail (not a video voicemail)/Don't Text Before Calling: Your clients may not be as tech-savvy as you are, so it would be impractical to not leave a voice mail for clients who do not know how to text. Further, it opens the door for clients to text you back at all hours (and may unrealistically expect an immediate text back – remember, set office policies with your clients, opposing counsel, and the general public about when they should expect communications to be returned - the send later function on email is great for when you are working late at night or on the weekends and you don't want everyone else to know). No one has the general ability to text government offices and government employees who do not have an office mobile phone. And if you text them on their personal phones, there may be a confidentiality issue.

WHen you use technology communications make sure you are using proper etiquette!

Be Very Mindful When Speaking in Public (speakerphone or not): If you are on a call in public, make sure the client is okay with this situation. When talking with a client, attorney, or other party about a case, be mindful to, at very minimum, not discuss the client's name. You don't want to breach any confidentiality issues. Depending on the notoriety of your client base, you may not want to talk about your "anonymous" client in public at all. Regardless, you never want the other party on speaker phone should they inadvertently reveal confidential information or their voice is obvious to the public!

Email (for conveying facts or creating a record) over phone calls (for general client relations):  Do use email when you are trying to inform the recipient of facts. Do you use email when you need to create a record of the communication (there are some parties, e.g., a handful of attorneys, that I have dealt with who can't always be trusted to remember the details of the phone call). It is sometimes simpler (and safer) just to send an email. Or, at the very minimum, send an email for a post-call record.

Obligation to Answer (but you can still screen calls): Just because someone calls doesn't mean you have to answer immediately. It is okay to mute the call and respond when convenient. But make sure that you have a receptionist (or at least a virtual receptionist, I use Smith.AI to answer your calls. The receptionist can reach out to you. Once contacted, you can choose to accept the call, screen it, or request the receptionist to convey a message or inform the caller of a later return call or follow-up email.

Use Voice Mail as a Backup: You should make sure that your line(s) has a working voicemail should no one be available. Note:  Even though I have a 24-hour answering service with Smith.AI, they can sometimes get overloaded with multiple callers. So, it's good to have a backup. With today's virtual and technological advances, setting up a voice mail is not something hard to provide your clients and potential clients. This concept is certainly not new - Doctors have had phone services to contact them on beepers for decades prior to today.

Phone calls play an important role in my office communications. Today, I meet almost all of my potential clients for the first time over the phone. We conduct initial consultations by phone. Remember, I have clients not only from across the country but also from all over the world. If we move forward with representation, our communications will move mostly to email and some phone calls. If we have a hearing with the VA (via the Board of Veterans Appeals), they are almost always by video. Phone calls may be "old-fashioned" and not quite fit in today's phone etiquette, but they are here for now!

MTC

Shout Out to Previous Podcast Guest Wendy Meadows and the Launch of Her New Book, "Sparkle & GRIT!"

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Wendy and I during her book launch!

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Wendy Meadows' book launch for "Sparkle and GRIT"! Her book is about learning how to balance life, family, and the practice of law.  It reached #1 on Amazon Books for several categories!

Wendy and I just recorded a new The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page Podcast episode where we talk about how she used technology to help her write her book, including tech tools to help her 1. write her book, 2. keep her writing process distraction free, and keep motivated and on track with a publishing schedule? Keep an eye out for Episode #73, which will be released soon!

Meanwhile, I had an opportunity to catch up with friends and previous podcast guests Carolyn Elefant and Jarod Jaskot.  It was a great party. Thank you Wendy, for the invite! I wish you much success!

I got mine and can’t wait to read it!

Check out her book here!

🎙️ Ep. #72: Leveraging Technology in Legal and Book Writing with Wendy Sare Meadows

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Join us for an enlightening conversation on technology, transformation, and the world of writing with lawyer, mediator, and career coach Wendy S. Meadows. We learn almost in real-time during the recording that Wendy has become an Amazon top-selling author with her book, "Sparkle and Grit." We discuss not only her book but the potential tech tools in a lawyer’s writing journey as we explore Wendy's personal experience in the realms of creativity, distraction-free work, and maintaining motivation in publishing. Also, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to escape the endless cycle of monotony, overcome self-doubt, and embrace a life of sparkle and grit.

Wendy shares her top three tech tools that played a pivotal role in creating her transformative book, "Sparkle and Grit." She explains how the technology she employed in writing differed from her legal work. Furthermore, we discuss the mysteries behind maintaining motivation and staying on track during the challenging writing and publishing journey. During the conversation, Wendy's passion and authenticity shine through as she empowers listeners to start their journeys toward a balanced and vibrant life.

As a bonus, we discuss how your Tech-Savvy Lawyer helped her (and could help you) make well-informed computer choices.

Enjoy!

  • Note1: This podcast was scheduled one day off the normal publication schedule so that we could time it with Wendy's book release.

  • Note2: My apologies for the recording from my mic.  Apparently, the mics got "switched" just before we went live with the recording.

Join Wendy and me as we discuss the following three questions and more!

What are the top three tech tools to help write your book, and how did using them differ from similar tools when doing legal work?

What are the top three tech tools to keep your writing practice and writing process distraction-free?

What are the top three tech tools you use to keep yourself motivated and on track with a publishing schedule?

In our conversation, we cover the following:

[01:30] Finding Your Technicolor Path: A Journey to True Balance and Transformation

[08:14] Tech Tools for Writing: Boosting Productivity and Tracking Progress

[11:12] Distraction-Free Writing: Top Tech Tools for Maximum Focus

[14:13] Tech Tools for Motivated Publishing: Social Media Strategies and Scheduling Solutions

[18:43] Guiding Tech Choices: Tips to Make Informed Computer Decisions

[25:40] Sparkle and Grit: A Guide for Practicing Life at Your Best

[27:21] Lessons from the Flamingo: Discovering Your Ever-Changing Work-Life Balance

[28:45] Connect with Wendy

Resources:

Connect with Wendy:

Mentioned in the episode:

Hardware mentioned in the conversation:

Software & Cloud Services mentioned in the conversation: